Photographer reveals truth behind famous Ireland abortion referendum picture

IT BECAME the defining symbol of Ireland’s recent revolutionary abortion vote. But this powerful photo almost never existed.

This powerful image summed up Ireland’s abortion debate in one snap. Picture: Alastair Moore

PHOTOGRAPHER Alastair Moore managed to sum up the emotion behind Ireland’s historic abortion referendum with one moving picture.

Mr Moore captured the image of countless determined Irish women flooding the streets with luggage in tow to symbolise the women who have had to travel to the UK to have abortions.

The shot went viral as the “Yes” campaign stepped up, and no doubt helped contribute to the landslide win, with 66.4 per cent voting to legalise abortion last week.

But now, the true story behind the powerful picture has been revealed.

• Waitress humiliates couple over $13 tip

• How to overcome your biggest fear

• Bank’s decision costs family everything

The snap was taken by the photographer at an organised pro-choice protest at London’s Irish embassy in 2016 — not recently in Ireland as many mistakenly believed.

The picture was published at the time, but reached new levels of popularity this month when it was shared by social media users around the world.

The Independent recently tracked down Mr Moore as well as women’s rights activist Hannah Little, who was the main star of the picture.

Mr Moore explained the picture — now one of the most famous in the world — almost never happened.

“I brought my camera to the protest at the Irish embassy in London by chance,” he told The Independent.

“The crowd grew quickly at the meeting spot and the organisers lined all the women up double file with their luggage to represent the Irish women who have to travel to the UK for abortions.

“When they started moving, the sound of the luggage wheels on the footpath was deafening. It was incredibly impactful — it had this feeling of a growing momentum and anger at injustice, but it was so civil.

My favourite picture of the year. I honestly feel a bit teary every time I see it. GO ON LASSES! 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻❤️❤️❤️ #hometovote pic.twitter.com/cwa7xAtnqB

— Ruth Makes Money (@ruthmakesmoney) May 28, 2018

Need a good cry? Follow the amazing #hometovote tweets. Yes for equality! Yes for choice!

— syreeta van Rooyen (@Syreetajayne) May 28, 2018

So proud and grateful leaving Dublin this eve after being #hometovote
We did it xxxxx go raibh míle ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mSd5TUe7Pz

— Laura NiFhlaibhin (@LNiFhlaibhin) May 27, 2018

“It wasn’t until I got home that I realised that every single woman had the same determined look on their face. A really powerful scene to witness.”

Mr Moore said he was proud to have contributed to the movement.

“Seeing female friends and family crying with relief and joy as the results came in — finally feeling like this is an Ireland that trusts women — was an incredibly touching experience,” he told the publication.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. It feels like a new Ireland, a fairer one, and one to be proud of.

“I’m just glad I decided to bring my camera along and got to witness the start of a movement.”

Meanwhile, Hannah Little, who co-founded the London-Irish Abortion Rights Campaign, told the publication she had fought for the “Yes” campaign even though she was personally ineligible to vote, as she has lived outside of Ireland for too long.

Irish citizens lose their right to vote after 18 months away from home.

The 28-year-old, who is seen wearing an orange jumper and determined expression in the photo, said “hundreds if not thousands” of Irish people had returned home to cast their vote.

“An amendment which restricted women’s healthcare never should have entered our constitution and yesterday, after a 35-year campaign, the Irish people voted emphatically to remove it,” she said.

“I am proud to say that two-thirds of the Irish public support a woman’s right to choice.

“[The weekend’s] overwhelmingly positive result can only mean a bright future for women in Ireland.”

As a result of the vote, the traditionally Catholic country will remove the constitution’s eighth amendment, which outlawed abortion by placing an unborn child’s life on the same level of its mother.

Irish women previously missed out on abortions altogether, or were forced to travel abroad to have the procedure.

[e-mail]